On Your Left! 5 Reasons Marvel Fans Love Sam Wilson

After several delays, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will finally get to see the next installment in the Multiverse Saga. Captain America: Brave New World, releasing on February 14, will be the first time that Sam Wilson has served as Captain America on the big screen, after his evolution in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Fans first encountered Sam Wilson as a veteran working at the VA, and came to know and love him in his role as the Falcon. Here are our five favorite things about Sam Wilson in the MCU.

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Sam Wilson has a vulnerable and compassionate heart.

Viewers’ first encounter with Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes place in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. After inadvertently racing him around Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Steve Rogers later seeks Sam out at the VA. Steve walks in to catch Sam leading a support group for veterans. As members share their stories, Sam validates their emotions and offers them words of encouragement as they work to move forward.

Steve notes the intensity in the room when the meeting ends. Sam agrees, telling Steve that everyone is carrying guilt and regret. He tells Steve about his wingman, Riley, that he lost during one of his two tours. Sam openly talks about his emotions and pains, never shying away from being vulnerable throughout his time in the MCU. He understands that the story of his loss and subsequent healing can instill hope in others who are struggling to find their way after facing similar things.

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Sam always does what is right, even when it is not easy.

As an Air Force Veteran and Avenger, Sam has faced multiple tough calls that have forced him to go against the very organizations he has worked for. When Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff show up at his door, Sam provides them with a safe place to hide. He even takes it one step further, offering to help them with their plan to expose S.H.I.E.L.D. as Hydra. He knows this is not without risk, but also knows that it is the right thing to do.

In Captain America: Civil War, Steve and Tony Stark disagree about the Sokovia Accords and Bucky’s innocence in the assassination of T’Chaka of Wakanda. Despite having the honor of being a newly recruited member of the Avengers, Sam refuses to sign the Sokovia Accords. By choosing to continue to operate as an Avenger outside of the confines of the Accords, Sam once again chooses what is morally right instead of buying the company line.

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He is an excellent judge of character.

Out of all the Avengers, Sam is perhaps one of the best judges of character. He forms a positive, trusting relationship with Steve Rogers quickly, seeing him for the man he is behind the super hero. He suggests Marvin Gaye’s album Trouble Man to Steve, treating him like a human instead of a hero, to help him catch up on all he missed while he was frozen. He even goes as far as playing the soundtrack for him later as he recovered in the hospital. Sam also trusts Natasha quickly despite her reputation in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

For a long time, Sam remained distrustful of Bucky Barnes, resulting in some of the most hilariously uncomfortable moments in the MCU. Sam was right to have a healthy mistrust of Bucky given his conditioning, where Steve’s loyalty and love for Bucky blinded him at times to the threat that Bucky could still present. As Bucky recovered, however, Sam’s trust in him grew at a faster rate than his hesitation toward the former Winter Soldier. The two eventually form a friendship built on hard-earned mutual respect and trust.

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Sam isn’t afraid of tough love.

Most of the heroes in the MCU have errors in their judgment due to hubris of cataclysmic proportions. Sam is one of the rare exceptions, with one of his bigger mistakes stemming from a mix of humility and self-doubt. At the end of Infinity War, Steve passes his Vibranium shield, and with it his legacy, on to Sam Wilson. When Steve gives it to Sam, Sam notes that it feels like it is someone else’s; Steve assures him that it isn’t. Sam promises that he will do his best, and Steve replies, “That’s why it’s yours.”

In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam and Bucky work together to physically reclaim the shield Sam had relinquished to John Walker. Sam, however, must do the personal work of accepting the duality of the challenges and responsibilities he faces in accepting his role as Captain America. He also uses this moment as a springboard to give Bucky some tough love, counseling him on how to truly move forward from his past. He goes on to challenge government officials, calling them to accountability with the kind of direct and heartfelt speech only Sam Wilson could deliver.

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Sam Wilson knows how to make an entrance.

Sam Wilson is among the half of the planet that Thanos snaps out of existence for five years in Avengers: Infinity War. As Steve Rogers faces down Thanos and his army alone, his communication piece crackles to life in his ear. Steve pauses in disbelief as he hears, “Hey, Cap, you read me?” Sam confirms that it’s him, and an interdimensional portal opens behind him. In one of the most iconic moments in the MCU’s history, Sam calls back to his and Steve’s first meeting, saying, “On your left.” He soars through the portal following Black Panther as the rest of the missing heroes return.

In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam claims his role as Captain America in brilliant fashion. He bears both the shield entrusted to him by Steve Rogers and wears a red, white, and blue flight suit made in Wakanda. He embraces both his previous identity as the Falcon and his new one as Captain America, throwing the shield through a window and bursting through afterwards. When asked who he is, for the first time, he announces himself as Captain America.

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Every hero in the MCU has admirable traits that inspire fans all over the world. None of them, however, give us something achievable to strive for the same way Sam Wilson does. Even without superpowers, Super Soldier Serum, or a fancy armor collection, Sam always shows up. Using his instincts, his intelligence, his compassion, his willingness to grow, and above all, his good heart, Sam represents the very best of what makes someone a hero.

What are your favorite Sam Wilson qualities? Join the conversation with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!